Dressing as nuns to promote their latest show, Sister Act, the cast of Huddersfield Light Opera Company went forth into town to spread the word.
And the word was that members of the theatre-going public were enthusiastic about the prospect of seeing the popular musical comedy at the Lawrence Batley Theatre.
“We were giving fliers out and we found that both the older end and younger people were interested,” says long-serving society member Neil Broadbent, who is taking a leading role in the show, which opens on Monday, April 27.
Indeed, with weeks to go before the show ticket sales had already reached 60% capacity.
“Everyone has seen the film,” he added.
“The music in the West End show is different from the film but was written especially for the show by the composer Alan Menken, who did the music for the film Beauty and the Beast, and there are some really lovely songs.”
While donning a habit proved to be one of the most embarrassing things he has ever done, Neil says that such activities are all part of the job description for an amateur actor. “We do it for the love of performing, for that moment when it all comes together on stage,” he said.
And when Neil steps onto the stage later this month it will be his 26th show with HLOC (he’s also performed in 19 pantomimes). He is playing Curtis Jackson, the ‘baddie’ in Sister Act.
Starring alongside him will be 20-year-old Alyce Liburd in her first show with the company.
Fresh from a role in Woodhouse Musical Theatre Company’s Buddy, Alyce is taking the lead role of Deloris Van Cartier (played by Whoopie Goldberg in the movie).
Alyce admits that she’s been secretly obsessed with the film Sister Act, which was released in 1992, since first seeing it as a child and is thrilled to now be playing a major role in the production.
A former student of Royds Hall High School, where she was encouraged to develop her voice, she has also appeared with Halifax Amateur Operatic Society. She would like to study singing and drama full time but is currently working as a sales assistant for a fashion company while building up a portfolio of appearances in amateur musicals.
“I like all sorts of music, from Motown and R&B to soul,” says Alyce, “and I really love the songs in Sister Act. They’ve got a sort of Motown feel about them.”
The cast of Sister Act covers all age groups – from 18-year-old dancer Chloe Byrnes, who is off to the Laine Theatre School in London this year, to long-serving members of the company such as choreographer Pamela Strickland and musical director Caroline Kelly, for whom Sister Act will be her last show in Huddersfield before moving to the Middle East.
Sister Act is the society’s 104th show and may be establishing a ‘nun’ theme as last year’s main production was the Sound of Music.
Each year HLOC stages a festive pantomime, which is a fundraiser for the company and helps to pay for the main production.
Sister Act is costing up to £50,000 to produce and will have lavish costumes, scenery and a live, professional orchestra. It has a large cast of 25 main characters as well as a troupe of dancers – not forgetting the all-important backstage crew.
“I don’t think people realise how much it costs to put on a production,” says Neil. “Or that as well as giving our time unpaid we pay our subs and are actively involved in fundraising for the shows. But it’s all worth it and we do it because we love it.”
Sister Act’s cast also includes Sharon Whitehead as the Mother Superior, Craig Kelly as Monsignor O’Hara and Dom Moccia (whose wife Holly is playing a nun) as Eddie Souther.
It is produced by Steve Tetlow, a veteran of more than 70 productions in the area, and the stage director is Chris Brearley.
The show, which tells the story of a wannabe diva who witnesses a crime and to protect herself has to take refuge in a convent, can be seen until Saturday, May 2.
Tickets are from £6.50 to £18 from www.thelbt.org or 01484 430528.
